Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Sky News Australia‘s Sharri Markson that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognize Palestine was a “sign of weakness” and a key factor in straining ties between Canberra and Jerusalem, vowing to continue the war in Gaza against the backdrop of ongoing criticism. He argued that the Albanese government had contributed to worsening diplomatic tensions by failing to demonstrate strength at a time when Israel was, in his words, fighting “a war on behalf of Western Civilization”. He further urged Albanese to confront what he called a “tsunami of antisemitism” that had spread in Australia since October 7.
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in June 2025 (Maayan Toaf/GPO) Maayan Toaf / GPO
Speaking in Jerusalem, Netanyahu revealed to Sky News Australia that former US President Donald Trump considered Australia’s move, along with similar actions by other countries, to recognize a Palestinian state as “irrelevant.” According to Netanyahu, Trump fully backed Israel’s military goal of capturing Gaza City and eliminating Hamas operatives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets youths during his visit to the Moriah War Memorial College in Sydney, Australia, February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Dean Lewins/Pool
“I think we’re on the verge of completing this war, a seven-front war that includes Iran and its proxies,” he said. “And when that happens, I think we’ll have tremendous opportunities to expand the peace. I myself made with President Trump the Abraham Accords, four peace treaties with the Arab states that hadn’t been done for a quarter of a century, and I think after our victory we’re gonna have plenty more.”
In the interview, Netanyahu confirmed that his government would continue a full military takeover of Gaza even if Hamas accepted a late ceasefire offer. Interviewer Sharri Markson noted that there are reports Hamas was “on the verge of accepting a deal for a ceasefire” and wondered if “it is true and do you still plan to take over Gaza and eliminate the terrorists if they do agree to a deal?”.
Netanyahu responded, “We’re gonna do that anyway. There was never a question that we’re not going to leave Hamas there. I think President Trump put it best, he says Hamas has to disappear from Gaza. It’s like leaving the SS in Germany. You know, you clear out most of Germany, but you leave out Berlin with the SS and the Nazi core there,” adding, “I’ve said that this war could end today. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and releases the remaining 50 hostages, at least 20 of which are alive, and that’s our goal to get all the hostages out, to disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and give a different future for Gazans.”
An antisemitic incident in Australia had an attacker in Melbourne wearing a “Scream” mask when vandalizing a synagogue (Local media)
Netanyahu underlined that Israel did not intend to “occupy Gaza” but rather to “free” it from Hamas rule and secure lasting peace. “It’s to free Gaza, free them from Hamas tyranny, free Israel and others from Hamas terrorism, give Gaza and Israel a different future, and I think we’re close to doing it. It’ll have to, of course, mean getting the last strongholds of Hamas, they shouldn’t be there. Everybody understands that.”
Netanyahu told Sky News Australia that relations between the two nations had reached their lowest point due to what he described as Albanese’s lack of conviction. He contrasted this with the historic friendship between the countries, recalling his 2017 visit to Beersheba to mark the centenary of the Australian Light Horse’s liberation of the city from Ottoman control. He warned that Albanese’s stance risked betraying that legacy.
He sent a message directly to Australians: “I want to assure you, that I want to assure them (Australians), that we will win.” He cautioned that some Western leaders were trying to appease Hamas at Israel’s expense, comparing their behaviour to feeding “the crocodile of militant Islam”.
Netanyahu accused Albanese of showing weakness after the October 7 terror attacks and said his legacy would be damaged. “I’m sure he has a reputable record as a public servant, but I think his record is forever tarnished by the weakness that he showed in the face of these Hamas terrorist monsters,” Netanyahu said in the interview. “When the worst terrorist organization on earth, these savages who murdered women, raped them, beheaded men, burned babies alive in front of their parents, and took hundreds of hostages, when these people congratulate the prime minister of Australia, you know something is wrong.” He stressed that the Palestinians under Hamas already had effective independence. “To offer them a state, when they had a state, a de facto state in Gaza, and they use it for murder, pillage and monstrous crimes is to reward terrorism, and I think that’s a sign of weakness that as I said, will tarnish the prime minister’s record, and I said so openly.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90; EPA/Rungroj Yongrit; Citizenside/Peter Boyle)
Drawing parallels to the 1938 Munich Agreement, Netanyahu argued that the West was again sacrificing a smaller ally to appease aggressors. “It’s appeasement, pure and simple,” he told Sky News Australia.
